So what is *Traditional* Folk Music?

Subject: RE: So what is 'TRADITIONAL' Folk Music ?
From: Rowan
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 01:55 AM

Don't forget Trad. had a mate called "Anon."

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: So what is 'TRADITIONAL' Folk Music ?
From: open mike
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 12:54 AM

written by that famous song writer from long ago "Trad."

Subject: RE: So what is 'TRADITIONAL' Folk Music ?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 12:27 AM

Dick, you have noticed that Soldier boy did not refer to the Musical Traditions magazine now, right? :-) So pls leave any moans about it alone, they don't answer Sb's question.

Malcolm's answer is the bets, I subscribe to that. Jon, agreed that not "much" of today's writing efforts will pass into the tradition of the future. But some undoubtedly will - if only we could pinpoint it, we'd get rich! But then, the percentage of the past's efforts that remained as tradition is probably similar anyway; we have no way of knowing really.

Richie, while the "no verifiable author" is part of the current definition of traditional, I think it's starting to creak as recording technology catches up and with it memories get longer - nowadays we do know the authors of several older-than-100-year-old songs, for example, while in the past a song could be termed "traditional" within a couple of generations (except it wasn't of course, it was just "old"; "traditional" I think came into use more recently, and probably after the term "folk" was coined, to differentiate from newer burblings). But I agree that "Just because something is not new doesn't mean it's not of value" - and also the reverse.

Subject: RE: So what is 'TRADITIONAL' Folk Music ?
From: The Sandman
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 11:52 PM

when I asked musical traditions magazine, how they defined traditional music, I got a strange answer,plus the usual abuse from guests.
There are obviously some very old ballads that qualify,[but somebody must have composed them ] is it a question with tunes, of modes they are written in, i,m notsure.
If you google musical traditions you will find it a very infomative and interesting read,.
Although I dont agree with the editors exclusion of the folk revival, to me tradional music is a continuous stream, that has to include the Folk revival,and may in the future include present day composed songs. Dick Miles

Subject: RE: So what is 'TRADITIONAL' Folk Music ?
From: GUEST,Richie
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 11:21 PM

There are many great songs that are traditional. To me traditional means that the songs have no verifiable author.

How we interpret songs is important and how songs touch us (emotionally) is important.

Just because something is not new doesn't mean it's not of value.

Richie

Subject: RE: So what is 'TRADITIONAL' Folk Music ?
From: GUEST,memyself
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 10:08 PM

Soldier Boy, did you have a question, or did you want to correct our attitudes, or what?

Subject: RE: So what is 'TRADITIONAL' Folk Music ?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 10:05 PM

Because todays observations will become history and will become the new traditions of the future.

Yes, but which obeservations expressed in songs will carry on and be part of future traditions?

Personaly I doubt that much of what I suppose is described as "contemporary folk song" will do.

Subject: RE: So what is 'TRADITIONAL' Folk Music ?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 09:59 PM

The traditions of today are the legacy of the past, as mediated by both change, continuity, and deliberate re-invention.

The traditions of tomorrow may in the same way be the legacy of today and the past that has led up to it; we won't know, though, until it happens.

Our ancestors are mostly dead, and unlikely to be in a position to learn much from us. Our descendants, on the other hand, may inherit some sort of tradition from us. It will depend on whether or not we leave them anything worth having.

Subject: RE: So what is 'TRADITIONAL' Folk Music ?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 09:57 PM

G'day Soldier boy,

Not creating / singing songs about right now ... is certainly not traditional.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: So what is 'TRADITIONAL' Folk Music ?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 09:51 PM

I agree with you but tell them to go easy on the drums and lower the amplifiers.
                                                 SOL

Subject: So what is 'TRADITIONAL' Folk Music ?
From: Soldier boy
Date: 12 Oct 06 - 09:39 PM

I am probably being very naive in creating this thread but from talking to many of my folkie friends I am still confused about what many call "Traditional" folk music.

What exactly is meant by " Traditional " ?

The dictionary says this is the passing and handing down of an established practice or custom.

So it means feeding off and replicating the past. Or does it ?

Does it just mean then that all we can do is unlock and replicate past occurances and forever stay locked in a sort of time warp and never dare to stamp our presence on the present and the future?

I know this is all starting to sound a bit philisophical but please bear with me.

There are many examples of song writers today that write songs that sound kind of traditional ( often with reference to maidens, being at sea, down the mines, farming, protest songs etc etc )

But what about this century? The time we are in now.
If we don't write songs about this age what will our ancestors learn about how we lived now ?

You can't be fixated by the past. We have to move on.

The challenge therefore is to invite much more creativity in todays folk music not to try to copy the ghosts of the past but to express our hopes and observations of the future.

Todays young and up and coming artists are confused about what they are supposed to do. Let's help them by saying just do your own thing.

Because todays observations will become history and will become the new traditions of the future.